Mississippi Prison Van Crash Kills Officer and Inmate in Fiery Interstate Collision
A tragic crash on a Mississippi highway has claimed the lives of a prison officer and an inmate, leaving two others critically injured after their transport vehicle careened off the road and burst into flames. The devastating incident occurred on Wednesday morning during heavy traffic on Interstate 10, sending shockwaves through the local community and prompting a major investigation.
Details of the Fatal Collision
Officer Michael Valera, 32, from central Florida, was driving the prison van at the time of the crash. He died alongside inmate William Rodman, 34, who had recently been released from a jail in Lake City, Florida, and was being transferred to Spaulding County, Georgia to face fraud charges. The Ford van, operated by the private company St. Joseph Services, was travelling from Florida to Mississippi to pick up a prisoner from Harrison County Jail when the tragedy unfolded.
Harrowing dash cam footage captured by witness Charlie King shows the out-of-control prison van screeching across multiple lanes of traffic at approximately 9:30 am. The vehicle first shunted another car off the road before colliding with a utility truck and a metal pole. It then overturned and immediately caught fire, sending thick black smoke billowing into the air.
Witness Account and Rescue Efforts
Charlie King, who witnessed the entire incident, described the terrifying moment the prison van "disintegrated" on impact. He immediately pulled over to help but quickly realized the situation was far worse than he initially thought. "I had to come back and get my fire extinguisher," King told Fox10. "The fire started out small, but by the time I got back, it was too far gone to put out with a fire extinguisher."
First responders faced a challenging rescue operation, forced to cut open the side of the van to free the remaining prisoner who was shackled in the back. The second officer and inmate, identified as 29-year-old Officer Raymond Boetermann and 27-year-old inmate Javier Arroyo, were airlifted to hospital in critical condition. The utility truck driver, 54-year-old Jerry Jenkins, was transported by ambulance with serious injuries.
Investigation and Aftermath
The Mississippi Highway Patrol has launched a full investigation into the crash. Highway Patrol spokesperson Landon Orozco confirmed to WWL that the impact caused the fire to erupt. Witness Charlie King noted he had observed excessive exhaust coming from the van prior to the crash and theorized this may have contributed to the tragedy.
The collision caused significant disruption to traffic, with several interstate exits blocked for hours during rush hour. The Mississippi Department of Public Safety warned drivers to "expect extended travel delays" and encouraged them to use alternative routes. The Daily Mail has reached out to the Mississippi Highway Patrol, St. Joseph Services, and the Florida Department of Corrections for comment on the incident.
Officer Michael Valera is remembered as a father and husband from central Florida, while officials confirmed inmate William Rodman was facing fraud charges at the time of his death. The private transportation company St. Joseph Services, which provides inmate transportation services to law enforcement agencies, now faces scrutiny over the safety of its operations following this devastating incident.
